After producing a season’s best performance at Brentwood on Tuesday evening, Grays Athletic carried on their winning ways with a comfortable win on Saturday at the expense of Haringey Borough.

But today was more than just about football - the club joined the campaign Fans v Dementia,raising awareness of a disease that is one of the country’s greatest killers, with barely a family untouched by its grip. Before today’s game, a group of Grays fans ran or walked a 10 mile route of our grounds, past, present and future - from Parkside in Aveley, via Ship Lane and Bridge Rd to Tilbury - raising almost £2,000 in sponsorship for Dementia UK.

There is still time to donate to this most worthy of causes. Go to our fundraising page:

https://dementiauk.enthuse.com/pf/apparently-athletic-1890

Huge thanks to Sarah for organising and all those who took part.

But back to the match …….

Haringey started the game as if they meant business, recognising that their best chance was to strike early. And they nearly did just five minutes in when Derek Asamoah found Tosin Alufemi but his close-range shot was well kept out by Danny Sambridge. Sadly for the visitors that was about as good as it got.

Grays, having weathered the early storm, started to assert their authority and created a host of chances. Danny Gould found George Craddock in space, with a peach of a cross, and he should really have scored. Even keeper Jack West Astuti fumbled the effort but still it stayed out. And then Kenedi Dariri, playing in midfield today, in the absence of the suspended Sid Walker, went on a long run downfield and was only blocked on the edge of the penalty area.

Aron Gordon picked a fine defence-splitting pass to release Luke Hirst. He rounded the keeper but saw his shot cleared off the line by Damilola Taiwo-Pratt. And then Craddock probably picked the wrong option of shot or cross, when the defence cleared his ball into the six yard area.

But eventually the pressure had to tell. Tyler Brampton’s long pass out of defence found Gould, who fed Elliott Sartorius whose cross was shanked away for a corner. Craddock’s deep delivery fell to Alex Moss who chipped the ball back into the danger area and Alejandro Machado produced a classy overhead finish to make it 1-0 to Grays.

And there was still time before the half-time whistle for Aron Gordon to have a shot crowded out by the home defence and for Alex Moss to see his header scooped off the line amongst a pile of bodies.

Half time : Grays Athletic 1 v 0 Haringey Borough

Blues came out looking to settle the game quickly and yet more last ditch defending saw headers from Machado and Craddock cleared from under the bar.

But all the while it was only 1-0, Haringey sensed they were still in the tie. And after probably their best period of possession all afternoon, the chance fell to J’Ardell Stirling but he missed the target.

After that though, Grays re-asserted their dominance. An Aron Gordon run teed up Sartorius who sent his shot just wide of the upright.

Sartorius then turned provider. Haringey failed to clear his inswinging corner and the ball fell to that man Alejandro Machado again, ten yards out and he slammed the ball into the net for his and Blues second of the afternoon.

Louie Remi, off the bench, should have put things firmly to bed shortly before the close. He muscled his way into the penalty area but saw his side foot shot roll past the keeper but agonisingly wide of the far post.

Blues nemesis of years gone by, Derek Asamoah, was denied a sight of goal until the final minute of normal time but the chance came to nothing.

So, another good three points for Grays, as they continue their challenge at the upper end of the table. It’s now seven wins from eight league games, which tops the form table. But as we have seen recently, every opponent in this division presents a real challenge. And with four consecutive away games to come, starting at Gorleston on Wednesday evening, there are no easy points on offer.

Final score : Grays Athletic 2 v 0 Haringey Borough

Grays Ath : Sambridge, Brampton, Moss (74, Skarna), Machado, Finneran, Dariri, Gordon (68, Ali), Sartorius, Hirst (77, Smith-Kouassi), Craddock, Gould (61, Remi)

Sub not used : Henry-Rose